Reed, Ira Ottinger, Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name Reed, Ira Ottinger, Jr
⇗
Rank Flight Officer / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-886518
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #140 dated 17 July 1944, effective 17 July 1944.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool, 70th Replacement Depot, AAF Station 594, per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 24 January 1945, effective 20 January 1945.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 20 January 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 20 May 1923
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Carlsbad AAF, Carlsbad, New Mexico, Class #44-04, 18 March 1944.
  • Commissioned as Second Lieutenant (AUS) effective 11 September 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #181 dated 12 September 1944.
    Promoted to First Lieutenant effective 26 November 1944 per Headquarters, Eighth Air Force Special Orders #323, EXTRACT dated 26 November 1944.
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hepler, Wilbur David, Jr⇗PilotTR
2nd Lt. Powell, Joseph Donald⇗Co-pilotTR
2nd Lt. Mason, James Robert, Jr⇗NavigatorTR
Flt. Ofcr. Reed, Ira Ottinger, JrBombardierCT
S/SGT. Way, James Leon⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Hord, Jack O'Mahor⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Watson, Paul Leland⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Wishnak, Lawrence George⇗Tail GunnerTR
SGT. Daniel, Paul Fitzgerald⇗Flexible GunnerCT
CPL. Hofer, Arthur (NMI), Jr⇗Flexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 33 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Bombardier 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 44‑6141.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Bombardier 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Bombardier 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Bombardier 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Bombardier 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship. 'Landed at coast for fuel' and arrived at base two hours late.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Bombardier 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group. Originally assigned as the lead group flying spare, joined the high group after two aborts in that formation.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑37703⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Bombardier 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
189⇗ 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37982⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38213⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
191⇗ 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
196⇗ 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron. Landed away at Woodbridge, reason unknown.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
C Wing, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38615⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Third Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
220⇗ 5 November 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 43‑37971. High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38750⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
224⇗ 10 November 1944 Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Squadron, Squadron Deputy. Gee-H ship. 544th loading list has 'Lt. Toelhman (303rd B. Gp)' listed as GH Navigator.
Sortie Report⇗
226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Gee-H ship; aircraft flew with the 381st BG at Ridgewell, as deputy group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
228⇗ 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, A group; Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
239⇗ 12 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
240⇗ 18 December 1944 Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Because an inverter went out in the PFF equipment on the first run, they were forced to make a second PFF run which was completed without difficulty.
Sortie Report⇗
244⇗ 27 December 1944 Target: Bridge (Tactical)
Type: Transportation
Location: Altenahr, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8401⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron lead. Aborted over base due to instrument failure; bombs jettisoned.
Sortie Report⇗
246⇗ 30 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Limburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
249⇗ 2 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gerolstein, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Led formation on two bomb runs.
Sortie Report⇗
252⇗ 7 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point
Type: Military
Location: Blankenheim, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
256⇗ 17 January 1945 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: Bielefeld, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship. Ordered to fly as division deputy while en route, due to failure of PFF equipment on lead aircraft. Led formation from IP (because lead Gee-H equipment also failed) in attack on secondary target using his PFF.
Sortie Report⇗

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